Trenton Tigers (Class 1A-District 6)
2013 Record: 12-1
Head Coach: Andrew Thomas
Key Players: Brandon Lovelace (DL, Sr.), Anthony Milito (OL/DL, Sr.), Jacob Gamble (LB, Sr.), Kade Rogers (DE, So.), Hamp Cheevers (WR/DB, Jr.), Kade Rogers (LB/RB, Jr.), Tre McCleese (DE, Jr.), Asa Marangoni (DB/RB, Sr.), Michael Smith (QB/DB, So.), Brooks Martin (WR/DB, Jr.), Ryan Matthews (OL, Sr.)
Outlook: No other team has won more games in Class 1A the past two years than Trenton with 25 victories and back-to-back state championship game appearances. If defense wins championships, then the defending state champion Tigers will have a chance to repeat. A total of nine starters return on defense, which pitched a shutout against Blountstown in the 1A title game, and they will be bigger and stronger this season.
Losing a leader like quarterback Stephen Smith will be tough, but they have several key players back including sophomore Michael Smith, who had a 35-yard interception for a TD in the state championship game, and Cheevers, who hauled in a 54-yard scoring pass against Blountstown too. Rogers (115 tackles), Gamble (96), McCleese (91), Lovelace (87) and Smith (67) are all back on defense. Offensively, the Tigers will be more of a spread, balanced attack. Only four starters return on the offensive side, so they will hang their hat on defense until some of their young skill players and the offense develop. Plus, the Tigers have head coach Andrew Thomas. He has the best record in 1A football since the FHSAA created the new rural division (36-3 in three seasons).
2014 Football Schedule
Friday, August 22 – at Newberry, 7:30 p.m. (Preseason)
Friday, August 29 – vs. Lafayette (Mayo), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – at Branford, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 12 – vs. Dixie County (Cross City), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 19 – at Bell, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, September 26 – vs. Cedar Creek Christian (Jacksonville), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 3 – vs. Hilliard, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – at Chiefland, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – at Hawthorne, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 24 – vs. Marianna, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 31 – vs. Bronson, 7:30 p.m.
*District game
“The Prep Zone” will count down to kick-off with a daily preview of high school football teams in the North Central Florida area. Here are the future release dates:
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 7
June 29 – Chiefland
June 30 – Dixie County (Cross City)
July 1 – Newberry
July 2 – Union County (Lake Butler)
July 3 – Williston
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8
July 4 – Wildwood
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 2
July 5 – Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
July 6 – PK Yonge (Gainesville)
CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 2
July 7 – Fort White
CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 4
July 8 – The Villages
July 9 – Bradford (Starke)
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 5
July 10 – Belleview
July 11 – Crystal River
July 12 – Dunnellon
July 13 – Eastside (Gainesville)
July 14 – North Marion (Citra)
July 15 – Santa Fe (Alachua)
July 16 – Suwannee (Live Oak)
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 6
July 17 – Central (Brooksville)
July 18 – Weeki Wachee
July 19 – Hernando (Brooksville)
July 20 – Nature Coast (Brooksville)
July 21 – South Sumter (Bushnell)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 3
July 22 – Columbia (Lake City)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 5
July 23 – Citrus (Inverness)
July 24 – Gainesville
July 25 – Lake Weir (Ocala)
July 26 – Vanguard (Ocala)
July 27 – Forest (Ocala)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 6
July 28 – Springstead (Spring Hill)
CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 3
July 29 – Buchholz (Gainesville)
CLASS 8A-DISTRICT 1
July 30 – West Port (Ocala)
